Old age

This week, the mar Thoma church will be meditating on the theme ‘honouring the elders.’

Generally, we seem to dread oldage. The slightest evidence of grey on our heads causes much anxiety. Last April, the Forbes Magazine ran an article titled, ‘Aging Demographics : A threat to the economy and to finance.’

In the article, the writer, a Wall Street veteran makes adept arguments regarding the consequences of an ageing population, that make statistical sense. The problem attributed to a longer life expectancy thanks to medical science and reduced rate of child birth (thank you again, medical science) leading to a dwindled workforce. However the subtext is clear. The elderly strain the finances of the country and leaves the economy poorer.

Some statements in the article reflect the sentiment shared by many an urbanite. For instance,
“After all, retirees, though they have ceased active production, still consume. Each of these three workers will have to produce enough for himself or herself as well as his or her personal dependents and one-third of what each retiree consumes, a heavy burden indeed.”

Or consider this:
“Because retirees tend to draw down on their nest eggs or at the very least stop contributing to them, an outsized retired population will leave the financial system less able to offer capital for economic innovation and expansion, especially since business will also face a profitability squeeze.”

Can the problem be solved with non-aging people who would always remain young? With the pace of innovation in genetic engineering, one day that might be a possibility. That will certainly solve the problem of having the ‘burden’ of an ageing population, won’t it?

Another way to look at it is that we simply lack space in our hearts for the elderly. Add to it an utter lack of creative thinking.

When people are turned into mere numbers, they will be judged on the digits they are able to produce. The higher the digits the better.

Despite their experience, people climbing the ladders of age as well as thr employment hierarchy are fired from the job. “You are a burden to us,” says the subtext.

The funny thing is, the last time one checked, no one was growing younger. In fact no one has, till date. Except, perhaps, Benjamin Button.

Let’s spare a thought for the elderly. Time is attention. One day we will grow old ( God willing!). What’s awaiting us? What kind of an old age are we expecting? What kind of an old age circumstances are we providing the elderly today?

How will our younger generations treat us, seeing how we treated the ones before us? Above all, don’t the elderly have a right to live a life without being labelled ‘burdensome’ and ‘a strain to the economy’? True, elderly, unwell parents or grandparents can test our patience and show us what our true limits. Is it ethical to take away their right to life and respect?

We talk about our children’s future. What about the future of the elderly? It’s time we spoke about it.